Mariah Carey Makes History !

With her 18th chart-topping single “Touch My Body,” Mariah Carey has officially outrun Elvis Presley in the Billboard charts record this week.

“I really can never put myself in the category of people who have not only revolutionized music but also changed the world,” Carey told The Associated Press on Tuesday via phone from London. “That’s a completely different era and time … I’m just feeling really happy and grateful.”

Carey’s single is the new No. 1 single on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart: The song also is No. 1 on the trade magazine’s digital download chart thanks to a precedent-setting 286,000 downloads in its debut week. She had been tied with Presley with 17 No. 1 singles; the Beatles are the all-time leaders with 20. (Madonna also beat a Presley record this week, surpassing the King for the most top 10 hits with her 37th for her hit “4 Minutes.”)

“Touch My Body” is the first smash from Mariah’s highly anticipated hot new album “E=MC2,” arriving in stores April 15th. Pre-orders are now underway for “E=MC2,” with iTunes customers receiving “Touch My Body” instantly with their pre-order.

Billboard’s associate director of charts, Silvio Pietroluongo, noted that “Touch My Body” which rocketed to No. 1, up from No.15 last week, would have reached the top sooner if it had been made available digitally at an earlier date. Finally released online last week, “Touch My Body” had been the only single in the top 75 of Billboard’s Hot 100 that was not available at digital retailers.

Carey, 38, said this is the most enjoyable point of her nearly two-decade old career, and that’s her priority these days, not trying to set sales records or even making pop history.

“I’ve gone through enough of my life worrying about that kind if thing,” said Carey.

“I want to encourage anyone else out there who feels like maybe they can’t overcome an obstacle, I feel like I’m living proof … never lose your faith,” she added. “I’m seriously a grateful individual right now.“